This is the first time I'm seeing the Shibs SD...and for the most part, I quite liked it. And, I really don't see Maia as stiff either...and personally, find her quite lovely to watch. What I did dislike was the costume, particularly the headband/tiara thingy...I think that somehow made her look as if she were playing a little girl playing a princess (of course, I never loved Navka's headbands much either, so perhaps this is just my peculiar perspective).

I really do think their packaging is somewhat off. Like how can their coaches not notice their costumes are completely wrong? (the SD I mean). It makes her look completely inadequate, and he looks stiff.

For those ice dance experts, especially pre-cop, weren't lifts timed before CoP too? I somehow thought that one of the 'big deals' in dance lifts was the ability to get in to position effortlessly and quickly - do the ta da moment - then get out equally efortlessly and quickly.

They had the tenacity to skate well when the favourites faltered. That earns hatred in the world of figure skating enthusiasts.

Frankly I think the Shibutani's should have been 3rd at 2011 Worlds even if the French didn't make that huge mistake. Their program was a pure delight, as compared to the French's being *shrug*, and they were technically stronger in several ways...